Deimos
Deimos
- Size: Length overall: 14.0" (35.6 cm), Blade Length: 9.0" (22.3 cm), Thickness: .250" (.63 cm)
- Weight: Knife: 16.0 oz. Sheath: 8.0 oz.
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, hollow ground
and mirror polished
- Fittings/Bolsters: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand-engraved by Jay
- Handle: Polished Bicolored Blue-Gold Tiger Eye Quartz Gemstone (silicified
Crocidolite)
- Sheath: Hand-Carved Leather
- Knife: Named for one of the moons of Mars, this
tactical style collector's knife is worthy of the title. Deimos
has a sweeping curved tanto style blade with graceful, elegant, yet
substantial weight and form. Weighing in at a full pound, the
quarter-inch thick blade is strong and stout, with full spine thickness
nearly to the tip. The deep hollow grind is well-matched side to side
and very clean, the edge is an absolute razor. I did a nice geometric,
staggered balanced filework fully around the blade from the point,
through the handle, to the choil. The tang is tapered, but left with
plenty of thickness to support the hefty blade. The bolsters are 304
high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel, and I've taken
many hours to hand engrave a Celtic spiral and leaf pattern on them, a
bright engraving with polished bolster faces. With the high chromium
content and gemstone, this is a piece that will hold its appearance for
generation after generation. The bolsters are dovetailed and hold a pair
of silky bicolored Tiger Eye Quartz gemstone handle scales, an absolute
favorite of men's jewelry. The gem is deeply chatoyant (the cat's eye
effect) in thick banded layers across the handle that a still photo can
not illustrate. Tiger eye is semi opaque to semi translucent, tough and
hard, and the lively and lustrous bands of light seem to move across the
surface. Some of this Crocidolite is blue (thus bicolored), for striking
contrast. Though there are some inclusions in the stone, the gem is
solid and permanent. I was lucky enough to find pieces large enough for
this wide, thick, and substantial handle, and took great care in
orienting the gem on the handle for the greatest display of chatoyancy.
The handle feels fantastic in the hand, comfortable and solid, and I'll
be using this handle shape again. The front quillon protects the hand
well, and the swell at the rear of the handle helps to counterbalance
the significant blade, while the thumb rise guides and supports the
grip. The word that comes to mind when I hold this knife in the hand is
"Mighty."
- Sheath: The sheath for this knife had to
compliment, yet not overshadow the knife. I carried through the Celtic
spiral design, and it ended up being a significant project, and I've got
over eight hours painstakingly hand-carving the sheath, front and back,
holding scalpels and wearing an Optivisor. An ambitious project that was
well worth it; one of the finest sheaths I've ever made. It's got a wide
belt loop for left side, right hand cross draw wear. The leather is dyed
a rich reddish brown color to accent the Tiger Eye; it's hand-stitched
in accurate, uniform spacing, deeply lacquered, edge smoothed, and
sealed.
Thanks, D. T.!
Jay,
Once again your skills and craftsmanship in knife making have yielded another wonderment of our Earth's
minerals, PHOBOS! It is not only a most beautiful Jay Fisher knife, but its edge, balance and form make
it a fearful weapon.
Many thanks for giving me the chance to own it.
--D.T.
Please click on thumbnail photos